Matt Ragland journals about moving his family of six from Nashville to Florida in January 2025. He weighs the loss of his office, friends, and gym against gains: his parents nearby, a lake, less work, and more help with kids. He frames it through faith, citing Psalm 67, and calls it a good life he's thrilled to live.
Chapters
Tuesday, January 28th, 2025. Woke up 6:30 AM, slept about 7 hours. Praise be to he. We've pretty much decided to move to Florida. Leaving would be hard. I love Nashville, but staying is hard too. 4 kids is a lot. Plus, since I last wrote, the daycare program is closing and the sitter that we've had for 4 years is moving to North Carolina. It's like all signs point to Florida, at least temporarily. I also read Psalm 67. In verse 1 it says, "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us." I believe in God's provision and plan. He has never failed me. It's been 10 months, 9 months, not good at counting, since that happened, since I wrote that. And I still miss Nashville. I really do. I miss my office. I miss my friends. I miss my friends more than my office. I miss jiu-jitsu. I miss CrossFit. But what we've gained here has been as good as I've imagined it. It's wonderful to be near my parents. It's Great to have more help with the kids. We have amazing neighbors. There's a lake across the street and we go fishing. And I hadn't been fishing really since we— probably since we left Jacksonville all those years ago. And this part of God being gracious and blessing and making his face to shine upon us, that's been the case. We have found a community here quickly. Even outside of family. That has been a big blessing. Work has been good. I have honestly not worked as much as I thought I was going to. One of the reasons that we moved was so I could, you know, have more time to work. But I've actually found that I've probably been working a little less since we moved here than I was in Nashville. Now I have traveled a lot more. And that was another big thing is that when I travel, Morgan doesn't feel like she's solo and siloed at the house in Nashville. It's been a blessing. And this was my, my part right here saying, I believe in God's provision and plan. He has never failed me. Provision has continued to be true and absolutely 110%. He has never failed me and he never will. So a little reflection here in the middle of October, and it's, it's a good life. It's not always the easiest, but it's the one that I'm thrilled and blessed to be living.
